Demise of a Hero Essay

The play Antigone is one of the known classic tragedies. Written by Sophocles and performed in 441 BC, the play is considered, up to the present time one of the more or less recognize tragedies ever pen. But then, what is a tragedy and what differentiates it from different forms?Aristotle, in his Poetics, delineate tragedy as the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, established in itself.(Aristotle, VI.2) Aside from such, tragedies also have the ability to instigate a feeling of pity and fear for the character. However, these feelings volition be lost erupt-of-pocket to a catharsis or purging of such emotions caused by the tragic ace.There has been a lot debate as to who is the tragic hero in the play. In Aristetolian definition , the tragic hero is doomed to fail and posseses a tragic flaw, or fatal flaw. In the case of Antigone, her tragic flaw, or misjudgement, that is hamartia is her higher laws of duty to the gods and ones family. She is willing to do all in all things for the laws she strongly abides by and fight for the family whom she is devoted to. Creon , on the other hand, is quite the opposite. He disregards the directives from the gods.The characters tragic flaw takes the character down as the tragedy progresses. I quote from Antigones line Gladly will I meet death in my sacred duty to the dead. thirster time have I to spend with them than with those who live upon the earth. Seek not to argue with me nothing so terrible can come to me hardly that an honored death remains.(Sophocles) Truly, Antigone is ready to face death to fulfill her duties.In Creons case, I quote, Honoring the good and punishing the vile, as well up beseems a ruler, I have assigned due funeral rites to Eteocles, who died fighting for the homeland but Polynices, who sought to make desolate with fire his native urban center and its gods, and who sought to glut himself with kindred blood and lead our citizens to sla reallyto him sha ll no man give a tomb. Let the body lie mutilated, as a feast to dogs and birds. Therefore have I appointed watchers all over his corpse, and do ye watch yourselves that no one disobey. Greed has often take men to their death.(Sophocles)Aside from having a tragic flaw, Aristotle defines a tragic hero as having several other characteristics that invoke the emotions of the audience who are reflexion the tragedy. The tragic hero is characterized by four major attributes. The first, tragic flaw, or hubris has already been discussed in the earlier dismantle. Another trait is that the character mustiness be either natural of noble blood, must posses nobility or is born with a high degree of wisdom. In the case of Antigone, she is born of nobility. Antigone is Oedipus and Jocatas daughter. Then again, Creon is also of noble origin since he is the veritable ruler at.that time.After such follows perepetia or a reversal of good deal which is caused by the aforementioned flaw. Antigone is emprisoned and starved to death, while Creon eventually loses all that he has. Creons anagorisris or realization of his mistakes came too late. When he consulted the prophet Teiresias, all of his family were dead and Antigone had already commited suicide.Antigone was written by Sophocles a known tragedian, it was written for Greek audience and was meant to be performed on a Greek stage. Antigone is unrivalled of the 3 Theban plays or Oedipus cycle. This cook contains Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and the aforementioned play, Antigone. The characters in the play are individuals who are part of Greek mythology.The play is set in the kingdom of Thebes at a time after the bam of a war in among armies led by the cardinal sons of Oedipus. The main contravention of the play was presented in the beginning of the play. Since the beginning of the play, the conflict lies on the death of the two brothers who had apparently killed each other. Creon suggested that Polynices would not be given proper burial.He argues that since Polynices fought against the kingdom of Thebes, he cannot be conceal with proper rights while Eteocles received full military honors in his burial. Having nominate out what had become of his brothers, Antigone defies Creons decree and decides to bury his brother. When Creon found out about this, he ordered for Polynices remains to be dug out. At this point, Antigone accepts to be punished by death for the action she has done. Ismene claims to be part of this incident but Antigone does not allow her to admit to such act.The important characters in the play are Antigone , Ismene, Antigones sisterCreon, Eurydice, Haemon and Teiresias. Antigone is a fair sex who adheres firmly to the law of the gods as well as the protection of her family. In the course of the play, we see that Antigone holds onto what she believes in up until her death. Ismene, as she goes into a engagement with her sister, showed her resilience and how Antigones ideas h ad greatly influenced her. Creon is Antigones uncle.But unlike Antigone, he is a firm believer of the laws of man. He is constrained by the ideas of repose and goos sense. Eurydice is Creons wife. She is silent but very significant since her suicide label the total fall of Creon. Haemon is Antigones fianc and Creons son. He tries to convince his father to allow Antigones life. He was also responsible for speaking of the opinion of the plenty that Antigones decision was right. Teiresias is the blind prophet who spoke to tell Creon of his wrongdoings. Teriesias cecity and Eurydices silence tells us how significant the stillness can become. In our modern age, there is still debate on who should be followed. Although most laws that are created adhere to the known laws of our religion, there is still conflict between the man-made and divine laws. At times, it is very difficult to decide which laws to come out first, especially when there is no absolute right and wrong. However, as w hat had happened to Creon, it is very possible that we make a mistake and end up much like the tragedy that is in Antigone.Works CitedAristotle, Poetics.Gregory, Justina, ed.. A Companion to Greek Tragedy, 2005Segal, Charles, Tragedy and Civilization An Interpretation of Sophocles (Norman University of Oklahoma Press, 1999, new edition).Sophocles. Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York Penguin Books, 1986, p. 35